Broncos Update Insider

The health of a couple of veterans will determine the mix at wide receiver for the Denver Broncos next season.

The Denver Broncos will have a couple of veteran options at their third receiver position, if either player gets healthy.

Rod Smith, who had hip surgery in late February, will have a chance
to retain his starting spot but Broncos coach Mike Shanahan opened up
the competition between Smith and Brandon Marshall, an up-and-coming
second-year player.

Smith's health created a problem. If Smith, who will be 37 in May,
is slow to recover, the Broncos did not have many options at the No. 3
spot. Smith should be ready for the start of training camp, but that's
not guaranteed.

So the Broncos signed former Colts receiver Brandon Stokley to a
one-year contract. Stokley himself is coming off a major injury, having
ruptured his right Achilles' tendon late last season.

Stokley could be limited during training camp but he is on pace to
be ready for the season opener.

"It's not easy going on the market as an injured player but he has
confidence he'll be 100 percent," his agent Rick Smith said. "It's a
one-year situation and hopefully it's a lot longer."

When healthy, Stokley can make an impact. In 2004 he had more than
1,000 yards as a slot receiver for Indianapolis. The Broncos have
stocked up on offense this offseason, adding running back Travis Henry, tight
end Daniel Graham and now Stokley.

"He thinks he can do very similar things to what he did in
Indianapolis," Smith said.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Linebacker Al Wilson understands why he is being shopped in trade
talks, his agent said.

"Al loves Denver and has a lot of respect for the organization and
players, but he knows there's a business side to it," Wilson's agent
Peter Schaffer said.

The Broncos are shopping Wilson in part because he is scheduled to
make $5.2 million this season.

--If the Broncos trade middle linebacker Al Wilson, D.J. Williams
will get a bump in playing time and maybe a position change. Williams,
who has come off the field in nickel situations, could replace Wilson in
the middle. The team also has Nate Webster as a backup at all three
linebacker positions.

--Defensive end Courtney Brown was released by the Broncos. Brown
was the top pick of the 2000 draft but he couldn't stay healthy. Minor
knee surgery last August kept him out of the preseason, and his knee
never healed. He had microfracture surgery, went on injured reserve without
playing a game last season, and his career could be over.

--The Broncos finally announced the signing of quarterback Patrick Ramsey. Ramsey has some experience, which the Broncos were looking for.
They didn't want another young quarterback backing up Jay Cutler in his
second year.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I've had some injuries that have made it tough, but
you have to get over it." -- DE Courtney Brown, last September on his
injury-filled career

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

--LB Keith Burns will probably be back. He is a good leader and a
special-teams fixture.

--OG Cooper Carlisle will likely test the open market. The Broncos
want the versatile Carlisle back, but they have solid depth if he
leaves.

--DT Michael Myers is a solid, steady performer in the middle.
Quality defensive linemen usually get attention in free agency, so the
Broncos will wait to see if it is prudent to re-sign him.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

--FB Kyle Johnson (tendered at $850,000 with 5th-round pick as
compensation) has been a starter. With Cecil Sapp coming off a broken leg,
Johnson will probably be back.

--FB Cecil Sapp (tendered at $1.3M with 2nd-round pick as
compensation) is a talented player who fills many roles. Even though he's coming
off an injury, he should be back.